The Ministry of Education has commenced an assessment of schools in the Kerio Valley region to identify those that are not benefiting from the school feeding program.
The move aims to keep more children in school by addressing food insecurity, a significant factor contributing to school dropouts in the region.
Basic Education Principal Secretary, Dr. Belio Kipsang, noted that more than 20,000 students in the county are currently benefiting from the cash transfer program.
Speaking during the prize-giving and Thanksgiving Day for AIC-sponsored schools held at Moi Girls Kapsowar, he said the government aims to ensure that students have easy access to food, thereby enhancing school retention.
Plans are also underway to establish peace schools and convert some institutions into low-cost boarding schools in order to provide a conducive learning environment where children from different communities can learn together, fostering unity and reducing conflicts over natural resources such as water and pasture.
The government believes that education will help children broaden their perspectives, allowing them to see life beyond resource-based conflicts in the valley.
“Children of all communities who are having challenges can learn in peace by staying together and understanding that they are one,” he added.
Dr. Kipsang added that the presidential pronouncements on education in the Kerio Valley remain in force, and the recruitment of more teachers is underway.
The PS encouraged parents to guide their children toward careers in teaching to ensure that the region has educators who understand local challenges and culture.
Furthermore, a regional center will be established to identify and support children with special needs. This center, to be set up in Uasin Gishu County, will conduct early assessments to identify children with disabilities, ensuring they receive the necessary support to benefit from education.
“Early assessment will help identify children living with disabilities so that we can align them with the appropriate education services,” said Dr. Kipsang.
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Speaking on behalf of the Teachers Service Commission (TSC), Regional Director Alex Cheruiyot announced plans to rationalize teacher deployment to address shortages in the Kerio Valley region. Schools such as Simbayuet and Karena Secondary Schools will receive additional teachers.
Other schools facing staffing challenges will also get teachers within the next week, particularly in hard-to-staff areas of the Kerio Valley region.
“The Teachers Service Commission is implementing teacher rationalization to align with the competency-based education curriculum. We are optimizing our teacher establishment in schools to ensure proper staffing by moving teachers to where they are most needed,” said Cheruiyot.
Elgeyo Marakwet County Director of Education Nancy Wangoi Mutai urged Principal Secretary Dr. Belio Kipsang to deploy a Sub-County Director of Education to the newly established Kerio Valley Sub-County.
Mutai noted that an education office would enhance administrative efficiency since the Sub-county is already operational and further encouraged schools to increase the number of students transitioning to universities and warned against examination malpractice.
The county recorded 49 cases of exam irregularities, and schools have been urged to uphold integrity in national examinations.
By Kimutai Langat.
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